Marijuana and Alcohol: Effects on the BodyIt shouldn’t be much of a surprise that alcohol and marijuana comprise the two most commonly abused drugs by young adults in America. But while many would ask why young adults use these drugs, it’s more important to understand how these drugs affect the body. What exactly do these drugs do to the body and how does the body process them? Are the effects always negative? Does the amount consumed make a significant difference? First I will give a brief history of each drug, followed by the physiological processes of digesting each drug in the body, and I will conclude by examining the short and long-term effects of prolonged use of each substance. My goal is to give honest explanations about the effects of each drug using the most recent and accurate scientific data and statistics.

To understand these drugs more effectively, it is important to give a brief history of each. Marijuana use has been documented as early as 2737 B.C. in ancient China. It spread through India, North Africa, and Europe as an “agent for achieving euphoria” and as a medicine for a variety of illnesses (“History of Marijuana”). It was first introduced in America in 1611 in Jamestown, Virginia. Up until the 20th century, it was never made illegal in the United States because the users didn’t seem to cause harm to themselves or others while on the drug. It wasn’t until the 1930’s that legislation was introduced to portray marijuana as a dangerous, addictive drug that would lead to narcotic addiction. 40 years later, in the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana was legally classified as a Category 1 drug (the same category as LSD and heroin). During the Reagan administration, very strict marijuana laws were passed in attempt to further discourage teenagers from using the drug. The end result was a decrease in usage in the short term, but there has been a steady upward trend of usage since the early 1990’s (“History of Marijuana”).

The history of alcohol also dates back thousands of years. Fermented grain, fruits, and honey have been used for alcohol production since 7000 BC. Again, the first documented use is in China. Gradually, the use of alcohol spread through India, Babylon, and Europe. By the 16th century, the British government actually encouraged alcohol use for “medicinal purposes” (“Alcohol: A Short History”). Not coincidentally, alcoholism became a widespread problem for Great Britain during that time period. But it wasn’t until the late 19th century that attitudes around the world starting changing in regards to alcohol. A movement for prohibition was rising and by 1920, the United States had outlawed production and distribution of alcohol. 13 years later, in response to an enormously uncontrollable black market for alcohol that the government indirectly created, Congress repealed the law. Today, alcohol is widely used by not just those legal to buy it, but also by teenagers and young adults. An estimated 15 million Americans (all ages) suffer from alcoholism and 40% of all deaths due to car accidents involve alcohol. (“Alcohol: A Short History”)

It is important now to focus on the physiological process of digesting marijuana in the body. An article titled “How Marijuana Works”, written by Kevin Bosner gives extensive detail on how the body processes the drug. Marijuana is most commonly ingested through smoke. The strongest chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannnabinol), which gives a “high” feeling to users. When smoke from marijuana is inhaled, THC goes into the lungs and is exposed to millions of tiny sacks called alveoli. The alveoli are responsible for the gas exchange between capillaries and lungs. THC enters the alveoli where it is transferred to the blood stream, which then brings the compound into major organs like the brain. Typically, THC reaches the brain within seconds after it is inhaled. After THC reaches the brain, it affects the neurotransmitters in the...

YOU MAY ALSO FIND THESE DOCUMENTS HELPFUL

...Marijuana VS Alcohol and Tobacco
Cassandra Pratt
COM/156
February 26, 2012
Raquel Wanzo
Marijuana VS Alcohol and Tobacco
Marijuana has been a greatly debated subject for hundreds of years. Marijuana is illegal under federal law. However, under state law it can be prescribed by a medical physician in 16 out of 50 states, for its scientifically proven medicinal uses. Although marijuana has...

...Alcohol Vs. MarijuanaAlcohol and marijuana are two drugs commonly used and abused in the United States. Alcohol is the number one abused drug, while marijuana is number one among illegal drugs. While alcohol remains legal, and marijuana illegal, this does not necessarily mean that the alcohol is better for you. There have been many arguments where people suggest...

...Effects of Marijuana, Heroin and Alcohol.
Contents
Effects of Marijuana
Effects of Heroin
Effects of Alcohol
Effects of MarijuanaMarijuana is a combination of shredded leaves, stems and flower buds of the Cannabis sativa plant. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. Occasional marijuana use is rarely seriously harmful, but smoking pot has important medical...

...
Comparisons and Contrast between Alcohol and Marijuana
The Effects on the Brain
Michael Smith, Jr.
Morehouse College, Department of Psychology
Author Note:
This paper was prepared for Psychology 102G, section 01, taught by Professor Chris Markham.
Cannabis is a plant that can be grown all over the world. Many people use the common term marijuana instead of Cannabis. Moreover, in today’s society,...

...remain, Marijuana and Alcohol. Both of these substances continue to be an ever growing source of debate throughout the United States. But while Alcohol is legal, marijuana remains illegal. Making a substance illegal would mean that it is detrimental to a persons' mental and physical state, therefore, a legal substance is by definition healthier. But what if that isn't the case? According to the World Health Organization, in the year 2011...

...﻿Marijuana vs. Alcohol
Everyone that lives in California knows that there is a drug war going on in our state. In America today, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. On the news or newspapers you see stories being done on the raided medicinal marijuana clinics. Even though pot is legal to the state, the FDA doesn’t approve of it, and will tear down any major clinics they find. I feel as though this is unfair. There are...

...Marijuana v. Alcohol
Grass. Ganja. Kush. Weed. Pot. Mary Jane. Marijuana. Marijuana is an illegal substance in America, used by people to get “high.” It has become a recent debate over whether it is right to legalize marijuana or to keep it as an illegal substance. Many people believe that marijuana is a dangerous substance that should never be legalized in America. These people focus on...

...twenties, alcohol was sipped cautiously behind the walls of speakeasies; glasses clinking under the flashing lights of entertainment signs. The hippies of the sixties and seventies passed pipes of burning marijuana, promoting peace while protesting for the rights of millions of Americans. No doubt, both drugs have had a major influence on the country, both have had their “glory” days. After a time of prohibition, the once thought sinful substance of...